What if we all did just one thing?
By Marie Coyle
@MarieCoyle (57559)
April 24, 2026 11:47pm CST
Today, someone helped me with something that meant a lot to me. A good friend just showed up...brought some coffee, and the visit made a big difference. Sometimes, a person just needs support and a listening ear and a caring heart to be there...hard to explain, but it made my day/week! I truly do try hard not to complain about things...but I do get tired. We all get tired. Sometimes, I think emotional tired is worse than physically tired. Do you ever feel that way?
Anyway, not to be overly sappy here, but it truly made me think a lot about how the little things we do, or could do, can make a difference. I usually give my little things in the way of something to eat, because I cook all of our meals. A container of soup, maybe some muffins or a loaf of bread...something to help someone out a little bit when they need it. I don't have the means that many people have, but I can do something to spread a little cheer.
This isn't a sermon. It's just some ideas to make someone's day.
What if we all did this? What if we gave a bit of ourselves, saw a need and tried to make a difference? It doesn't even have to cost money. It could be a fistful of wildflowers...a bit of help in some way...a compliment, or even a smile or a hug. Anything positive to make a difference to someone.
We talk here about hard times, and we know some people really don't have anyone--not much family or friends. What one person can do in a very small way could make all the difference to someone. In my case, it was just a friend, some coffee, and a listening ear, complete with a hug.
We can all make a tiny difference.
11 people like this
11 responses
@MarieCoyle (57559)
•
12h
Listening,caring,and just being there can make a huge difference. Like I said, it doesn’t have to cost money, just time and presence.
@snowy22315 (206511)
• United States
1h
You definitely make a good point. We could all do more if we just tried, and it doesn't take much sometimes to brighten someone's day.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (57559)
•
Just now
It really doesn’t take much at all. Even a smile or just a “Have a nice day” can make a difference to someone.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (499249)
• Italy
11h
Too many think the a single person cannot make a difference, but they are wrong. Even a tiny different is better than nothing. We can help someone in need, take care of a relative with health problems, help a neighbor doing something, offering to cook for someone who cannot. There is so much we can do.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (499249)
• Italy
11h
@MarieCoyle - My husband and I did a lot for my niece when she was young and alone without a place where to go. I am glad we helped, we also helped her mother, she had mental problems and we assisted her when she wanted to sell her apartment and buy one near her daughter.
@MarieCoyle (57559)
•
11h
I recently received several cards from some of Dale’s family. I never thought about them even knowing we tried to help him. We did take him soup and some meals when we could, which he always ate and appreciated so much. We read him his mail and tried to help him when we could. His granddaughters both sent cards with sweet notes. His sister did,too. Son and I were both very sad that he took his own life. He missed his wife terribly, so we think he must be with her now and that’s what he wanted.
You are right,even the tiny things make a big difference.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (54656)
• United States
1h
Beautiful message. This made me think of my mama and what I do for her , because she passed in 2019 and is no longer able to do the sweet things she would do for others. I never leave my home without finding something to compliment at least a few people about in the stores, business, restaurants and such that we go to. I also make sure to show love and gratitude for what my husband, son and other family do for me daily.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (57559)
•
Just now
Marie, I try to do the compliment thing,too. You can Terry the smiles that it perked someone up!!
I think your Mana must have been a very special lady. She taught you well. 
@wolfgirl569 (133409)
• Marion, Ohio
4h
If everyone did that it would be a much better world
1 person likes this
@Nawsheen (28741)
• Mauritius
10h
I really felt this. Emotional tired is real… sometimes even worse than being physically tired.
What your friend did sounds simple, but it’s actually huge. Just showing up, bringing coffee, sitting and listening
And I like what you said about the little things. It doesn’t have to be big or cost anything. A bit of food, a kind word, even just checking in on someone can really change their day.
If more people did even one small thing like that, it would honestly make a big difference.
@Juliaacv (55692)
• Canada
4h
I completely agree with you.
I feel that I grew up in a very good time, people trusted each other and we all got along.
Maybe it was the time, we were closer to the end of WW2, and lessons were learnt during that period in our world.
I try to give people the benefit of the doubt-always, and I try to get along with everyone, even when it means that I must listen and bite my own tongue.
A smile and a kind word goes a very long way.
@1creekgirl (44521)
• United States
1h
What a wonderful post and good ideas. Thanks!
1 person likes this
@DianneN (254298)
• United States
2h
I wholeheartedly agree with you. That was so nice of your friend.
To be honest, hubs and I try to make a difference in the lives of others and even animals. It’s not just about donating money, but picking up the tab for a family at a restaurant, buying something special for someone, inviting people over for coffee, breakfast, or dinner, sharing food from our garden, making a bouquet for neighbors just because, volunteering to teach read and writing to children who struggle, visiting those who are ill, lending an ear in person, FaceTime, or through a phone call, calling for an ambulance for strangers, helping someone in a restaurant who is having a heart attack or choking, picking up someone at a hospital who didn’t have a ride home, buying a bagel and coffee for a vet in a wheelchair, waiting on the street with someone needing their car towed and giving them a ride home, paying for dinner for a a couple of American students in France, letting someone in need have your seat, allowing a stranger to go ahead of you in line at the grocery store, paying the tab for a family who didn’t have enough money to pay for all of their groceries, etc., etc. These are just some of the things we have done. We could do more, and most likely will.
@LooeyVille (55)
• United States
5h
I like doing the unexpected small kind gestures to people who aren't expecting it.
